Pheasants will now be stocked in each region at 22 locations, and about 34,000 birds will be released during the hunting season
Hunters will get more opportunities to hunt released pheasants in 2020 thanks to increased pheasant stocking locations from nine to 22 and includes locations in each region of the state. Pheasant season opens Oct.10 in North Idaho and Oct. 17 in South and East Idaho. See area maps for opening dates on page 11 of the Idaho Upland Game, Turkey and Furbearer seasons and rules.
Pheasant release sites (new stocking areas in red, existing stocking areas in blue)
In addition to more release sites around the state, Fish and Game will stock about 34,000 pheasants this year, up from about 21,000 in 2019.
“Pheasants are the most popular game bird species for upland game hunters in the state,” said Jeff Knetter, Upland Game and Migratory Game Bird Coordinator. “Hunters and supporters of pheasant hunting asked us to expand the pheasant stocking program to include additional properties, and we now provide that opportunity.”
Hunters can see a full schedule of where and when pheasants will be released statewide on the pheasant stocking program webpage.
Know the rules where pheasants are stocked
New and existing pheasant stocking areas will fall under the same rules as Wildlife Management Areas where pheasants have been stocked in the past, which include:
Each Upland Game Bird Permit allows the take of six pheasants, and multiple permits may be purchased.
The two pheasant daily bag limit, and six pheasant possession limit apply
When a pheasant is reduced to possession, the hunter must immediately validate the permit by entering the harvest date and location (see below) in non-erasable ink, and remove a notch from the permit for each pheasant taken.
Shooting hours are
